England see off plucky Scots
21 Mar 2009
England were far from convincing as they beat Scotland 26-12 at Twickenham.
After thrashing France last week England were expected to see of Scotland without much fuss, but Martin Johnson’s men were ultimately frustrated by some gutsy Scottish defence.
Scotland started the game brightly and were on the scoreboard first through a Chris Paterson penalty and looked destined to score the first try of the game just moments later had it not been for a spectacular last-ditch tackle by Ugo Monye on Thom Evans.
The first half, though, belonged to England as they dominated both territory and possession. Having been frustrated by some outstanding defensive work by the Scots, the hosts finally scored two tries through Monye and centre Riki Flutey to go into the break with a 15-3 lead.
The second half was a more even affair as Scotland slowly started to get themselves back in the game. After Toby Flood and Paterson traded shots at goal, flyhalf Phil Godman cut England’s lead by three points with a long-range penalty.
The Scots had their chances, particularly on the counterattack and had they been able to take advantage of them, the result could have been very different. Paterson added his third penalty with less then 15 minutes left in the game as Scotland began to believe.
But England again assumed control following the restart and having taken the ball through 12 phases, replacement scrumhalf Danny Care popped over a drop goal with eight minutes left to put the result beyond doubt with the Scots running on fumes having made a total of 156 tackles.
Mathew Tait grabbed a late try for the hosts with time almost up, but in the end the scoreline flattered an England side who were nowhere near their best.
By Andrew Worling
15 Comments
21 Mar 2009, 17:26 pm
Hope BIGHIT is getting ready for a name change us scotch are up for this one
21 Mar 2009, 20:39 pm
Oh well Bighit looks like you won courtesy of a dubious try by flutey and a few other decisions. No matter here is my name change we promised
21 Mar 2009, 22:33 pm
Best team on the day won. England took their chances, Scotland didn’t. No excuses from me.
I didn’t see many potential Lions in this game though.
I can see Euan Murray (yet another tight head who has outshone Superman Sheridan this year) and Mike Blair as Scotland’s potential representatives. Nathan Hines might make the dirt trackers, as could Simon Taylor and John Barclay.
For England, Vickery has been playing well and should make the squad. I thought Murray was the better TH today and would be a better bet for the Lions, especially as Vickery is more injury prone these days.
I have been impressed with Nick Kennedy, Neither Borthwick or Shaw will make the squad IMO.
I can see Riki Flutey and Delon Armitage making the flight. Tom Croft has made every start a winner since he leap frogged Haskell, and i would definitely have him in the squad. Sheridan will most likely make the squad on reputation, although SA will be licking their lips if McGeechan does select him. He really is technically poor, and this 6N has only confirmed it.
As for the rest in both teams, there are better players in Wales and Ireland.
P.S. If McGeechan picks a team with a kicker and 14 men to support him, like he did with Jenkins in 1997, Paterson is the man. Like Jenkins, he is a great kicker, but a shocking rugby player!
21 Mar 2009, 23:52 pm
Well done England but really never good enough to win the 6N. I can see a couple from England going to SA with Lions and a kiwi is one of them.The other is the English Waterboy,he has impressed me through most of the matches England have played,by far the MVM of English rugby
21 Mar 2009, 23:57 pm
#2 Hairymuff: LOL, good man, true to your word. Scotland were better than I thought, their defence was dogged. Thom Evans probably a Lion’s wing.
#3 stodders: ‘on the day’? the best team period!
#4 Hurricane: England finished 2nd in the 6N, there will be more than just a couple on the Lions tour.
Still at least there will be no dirty spear-tackles this time out so the tour will be remembered in a positive light and not for a lack of Kiwi grace.
22 Mar 2009, 09:44 am
Yeah the better side won and we defended well for 75 mins which kept the game close. If only Simon Danielli could catch a ball or offload properly we might have scored one of the breakaways we had – back to school Danielli!
I can see Flutey, Croft, Mears, Sheridan, Armitage and maybe Shaw being English Lions, Scotland will struggle to have 1 in the starting XV on current form. I don’t think Mike Blair has done himself any favours at all this 6N – he has been poor in fact and is probably behind Mike Phillips and even Harry Ellis. Murray looks a good bet at tighthead, and I’d say Strockosh and maybe Ross Ford deserve squad places, but it’s pretty slim pickings!
22 Mar 2009, 13:21 pm
#5 Big Hit:
How about a dirty Shaw knee in the back.As i said never good enough to win as you have noted,You seem to be happy with the second placed team,i would say 3 places above expectations
22 Mar 2009, 20:31 pm
#7 Hurricane: it sure beats 7th/8th like you chokers, we’re developing a team for 2011, hopefully we’ll face NZ in the QF. It would be worth losing a pool game to knock NZ out at home in their own World Cup
22 Mar 2009, 20:33 pm
#6 jonnymain: Evans, Strokosch, Danielli and Paterson maybe…
22 Mar 2009, 21:27 pm
#9 Big Hit:
i would say max Evans would be up there for the lions too, Phil Godman also went up in my estimation due to his 6 nations performances he kicked well yesterday. Home advantage helped England massively yesterday Fluteys try highlighted the poorness of the refereeing it was a blatant knock on an should not have been awarded, the last time we played at twickenham wilkinson was given a TMO decision as well and he was in row z when he put the ball down. Engalnd were better but only just they were also helped by indecision and sloppy handling from Scotland other teams would have puniched them severely. I cant believe they finished second they had some luck though when you think about it
namely playing Italy on their opener with Bergamasco at scrum half who had a hand in Englands first three tries, The pressure was on Wales and Ireland as both teams were expected to win quite easily but didnt really turn up. France done their usual, put in a big performance then followed it up with a terrible one, Scotland never win at twickenham. Henson should have also kicked that final kick yesterday. Overall the 6 nations teams are poor i always said Wales were the best of a bad bunch and it was proved with their 4 place finish, The Boks and the All Blacks would stick 40 points plus on all the home teams bar Wales and Ireland who they would still beat by 25 plus points at home. Italy have regressed massively and bar Mauro, Mirco bergamasco and Parisse dont have any other decent players in their ranks.
22 Mar 2009, 21:36 pm
#8 Big Hit:
So does second place feel better than 7th??
To me thats a person who knows he was lucky to get second place so accepts it as a win,probably why NZs record in the RWC and head to head is better than Englands,we would rather win than be happy with second place.
I like the way you said it would be worth losing a pool game to face NZ in the qtrs,Big Hit you will be losing a pool game and maybe 2,you might not even top your pool or even get out of the pool stages.
2011 is a way off,you have another 2-3 6N tounaments to come second or third in.
22 Mar 2009, 22:15 pm
BIG HIT — you really are a sad pathetic fool… this article is about Eng vs Scotland, so seriously, why would you bring up anmything about New Zealand ??????? is it because Flutey (a kiwi) scored a try ????? and for the record, Eng have only ever beaten us 6 times in over one hundred years of rugby, how the fark do you think thats gonna change all of a sudden ???? by importing more kiwis in your side ?????
hahahaha you are beyond a joke, quick, best you take some more delusional medication…. hahaha cant even win a 6Nations, and what does 2007 have to do with your results this year ??? havent we wiped the floor with you guys enough already ???
23 Mar 2009, 13:58 pm
#12 poppa69: if we are all going to wade in here… he bring it up because Hurricane is a Kiwi and there is a constant battle going on between a few Kiwis and Big Hit.
Im not sure which team I “dislike” (in sporting terms) more – but I will always support a team that beats or knocks NZ out of a tournament!
23 Mar 2009, 14:01 pm
#1 dquinn25: mate, the Scots must KICK themselves for losing this game!
They had at least 3 clear linebreaks with the try-line in front of them and they messed up every chance!
The scrum half had both wings on either side of him and he tried to side-step the full-back – with a half-@rsed attempt???
I felt really sorry for the Scots, but they shoot themselves in the foot game after game. They are really not that bad, but they need to finish off their opportunities.
Alba gu bragh!
23 Mar 2009, 19:43 pm
#14 bokfan1:
yes i agree player to player we are no worse than england we couldnt finish a f–king fish supper
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